Immigration and the NHS

I welcome the commitment of the Government to building a single, global immigration system which considers people on skills, rather than nationality. When people voted to leave the EU, they did so in the knowledge that the free movement system imposed by the EU would end.

The Government is clear that this means continued work to bring net migration down to sustainable levels while ensuring the UK continues to attract and retain those who come to the UK to work and bring significant benefits. I am glad Ministers share my view that this should not include an open door to those who do not. The future border and immigration system will support the UK economy, but also address the public’s concerns.

I share concerns about making sure we have a migration policy that is right for the UK, including the NHS. For that reason, I want to assure constituents that the Government is looking extensively at how to ensure this policy delivers. I would also like to pay tribute to the tireless work that our doctors and nurses perform, not least of all the role of those doctors and nurses who have come from overseas to provide us all with our world-leading National Health Service.

With regard to EU nationals working in the NHS, I welcome the Government’s repeated commitment that all EU nationals working in the UK will be able to remain in the country with the same rights as they enjoy today. A new settled status scheme under UK law will be introduced for EU citizens and their family members, covered by the Withdrawal Agreement. This will ensure that EU nationals can continue to perform their vital roles across a range of sectors, in particular the health and care sector.

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